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Exclusive: YouTube Sensation Andra Day Sings to Us From the Set of Our August Music Issue

This month's issue of Glamour magazine is all music, all the time. What better way to celebrate the awesomeness than with some exclusive first looks from some of our favorite new artists. Each week, we'll share a new must-see video, photos from the tour bus, and interviews with you. We're kicking things off with Andra Day, who turned her YouTube stardom into a record deal in no time at all.

Picture this: You're in your sister's bedroom, recording cover songs of your favorite bands and posting them to YouTube one day. The next, you're on the phone with Ellen DeGeneres as she professes her fandom, followed by a bidding war and a record deal from Warner Bros records. That’s what happened to Andra Day, 28-year-old self-described “retro-pop soul singer” from San Diego. With more than one million Twitter followers as a result of her Eminem, Biggie, Florence and the Machine, Muse YouTube covers, Andra is getting ready to release her first single this fall, with her debut album to follow early next year. While shooting a fashion story for our August Music Issue on Venice Beach in California, we asked her to make us some music—exclusively for you. Here she is, belting out “Rearview” with guitarist and friend Dave Wood.

Crazy, right?! We chatted with Andra about a phone call from Ellen DeGeneres, her YouTube covers, and of course, her retro style.

Glamour: Your YouTube covers are epic. As an artist, what made you decide to launch in that forum? Andra: I decided to see how my voice sounds on different type of records. So I did Eminem and the Biggie, Florence and the Machine, and Muse covers. A couple of them just came from some jam sessions between me and my sister in her bedroom at my father’s house in San Diego.

Glamour: And how long before the videos took off?Andra: After about two weeks, we got a phone call from Ellen. She called and told me how much she admired me and how much she was a fan of what I was doing.

Glamour: You have such an iconic style—who inspires you? Andra: My style icons are Lucille Ball for her bouffant hair and all the updos. James Dean for his rockabilly style, the denim and rolled-up T-shirt thing. And I am also inspired by Dita Von Teese and Gwen Stefani. Their style is retro, but it’s still very feminine at the same time.

Glamour: Tell us about your rockin’ pompadour!

Andra: A pompadour is actually pretty easy for me; it takes me about five minutes. I start with either a pompadour or a little Bettie Page bang in the front and then I’ll let the bandanna cover my whole head and I’ll tie sort of in a bow at the top.

Watch out for Andra's first single this fall and her album to follow early next year. If we have anything to say about it, this gal is going to be a star!

What do you think of Andra's video? And check out those YouTube covers and report back!